From catwalk debutantes to million-dollar babes

By Kellie Hush FASHION EDITOR

May 1, 2010 — 3.00am

MODELS are often dismissed as glorified coathangers. But these Bambi-legged creatures replete with exquisite bone structure are so genetically blessed they can command more money during a brief career than their parents can hope to earn in a lifetime.

New faces can expect to be paid about $300 a catwalk appearance. A return season can bring $500 a show. Established Australian models who flit from New York to Paris and back demand about $1000 a show - much less than the $10,000 a day Linda Evangelista once demanded to get out of bed. But if a career is ignited it can mean earning millions a year.

Australian Fashion Week will see 200 young hopefuls hit the runways from Monday.

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Next week: Live coverage of fashion shows and picture portfolios of the latest looks on the catwalk.

And they will parade inspired by the knowledge that Australian models sometimes set the fashion world on fire.

Abbey Lee Kershaw from Melbourne has starred in advertising campaigns for Chanel and Gucci, collecting an estimated $200,000 from each fashion house.

Right now the buzz surrounds several Australian models on the Fashion Week catwalk including Sarah Pauley, Greta Chesterman, Lauren Brown, and Bambi (aka Stephanie Northwood-Blyth).

Some of them have already been booked for advertising campaigns, international catwalk appearances and magazine cover shoots.

Julia Nobis, 17, was discovered while shopping at Bondi Junction. In February she was booked exclusively by Calvin Klein for its New York show.

Also on fashion's radar are the Melbourne beauty Juliana Forge, 18, who features in a new campaign for Ralph Lauren, and Samantha Harris, 19, who is featured on the latest cover of Vogue Australia.

Stephanie Cherry, 17, from Penrith, started out as a child model but makes her catwalk debut this week.

This year's Fashion Week has attracted talent from Cairns to Narrabri and overseas. But despite the apparent glamour, it can be a ruthless business.

For Ksubi's show on Friday 120 models auditoned, but only 30 were cast. For Jayson Brunsdon's show on Wednesday, 70 aspirants were culled to 25.

"It can be a shitty life if you're not amazing [looking]. You have to be thick-skinned," said Nicole Bonython-Hines, stylist for the Brunsdon show.

Kannon Rajah, a New York-based casting director who has worked with Fendi, Donna Karan and Oscar de la Renta, cast the Ksubi show. His checklist is long: body proportions, skin tone, hair, face structure, walk, attitude, personality and an X-factor.

"There's got to be freshness and coolness about them. When the right girl comes along, you know. I liken models to athletes. They have to work hard, be dedicated and be mentally and physically focused to do well. It's not just about being a pretty face,'' he says.